I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
Oh give over. You don't find it interesting that one of our number is bumbling around Ukraine?
I'm also enjoying Leon's random musings, FWIW. It's not as though he's masquerading as a serious journalist.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
I apologise that my Friday is a tiny bit more exciting than yours
...once they have produced vegetable products at a reasonable price that taste like meat...
Go into a large supermarket (not your local Morrisons, something like a Tesco Superstore) and look at the not-meat/no meat/plant-based stuff you can buy. Things have developed extremely rapidly over the past two years: it's not your Quorn for veggies anymore.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
I apologise that my Friday is a tiny bit more exciting than yours
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
Oh give over. You don't find it interesting that one of our number is bumbling around Ukraine?
I'm also enjoying Leon's random musings, FWIW. It's not as though he's masquerading as a serious journalist.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
Oh give over. You don't find it interesting that one of our number is bumbling around Ukraine?
I just posted some seemingly very sensible advice from David Niven about reporting from war zones.
“When you have more than six piercings/tattoos, the risk of/correlation with suicide increases significantly and goes up with every tattoo/piercing thereafter”
I recall posting this well known psychological rule on PB a few months ago. Some people got outraged
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
I apologise that my Friday is a tiny bit more exciting than yours
When my daughter was in her teens, she decided to become a vegetarian. There's a happy ending - the smell of frying bacon was enough to bring her back to sanity.
I work with a guy at work whose mother raised him as a vegetarian, until he reached the age of 17, stayed with his Uncle and ate a roast. His mother wasn't happy.
"Sanity" and "seen the light", eh? Vegetarians live on average about 9 years longer than the dimwitted amoral turds who munch pieces of dead animal and think they're being sane and enlightened.
9 more years of misery, you can keep it , I will stick with Bacon sandwiches, roast chicken , steak, etc
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
I apologise that my Friday is a tiny bit more exciting than yours
Yes waiting for a bus sounds pretty exciting.
He’s no Patrick Leigh Fermor. But then, who the hell is?
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
We are close to agreement, Leon. This is worrying.
Airplane has be be the most un-PC film ever made. I'm surprised it hasn't now been banned. It makes me laugh still, although one or two or the jokes make me squirm a bit.
The bit where the old lady speaks “jive” may be the single funniest moment in cinematic history.
Yes, and that is perfectly fine, because it sends up ridiculous contrived argots.
Btw, overindulgence in cockney rhyming slang is a very good example of this affectation. In my experience, real Cockneys use it sparingly.
I don’t think it sends up contrived argots. I think it packs a tonne of quite complex racial baggage into a deliriously surreal moment of hilarity.
I'll think about that next time I watch it. But it undoubtedly hilarious.
“When you have more than six piercings/tattoos, the risk of/correlation with suicide increases significantly and goes up with every tattoo/piercing thereafter”
I recall posting this well known psychological rule on PB a few months ago. Some people got outraged
Correlation <> causation there, though, surely? Tattoos don't make you sad/mad; sadness/madness impels you to go a bit overboard on the old body mods.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
Oh give over. You don't find it interesting that one of our number is bumbling around Ukraine?
“Bumbling” is the exact word. Almost no one here speaks English and everything is in Cyrillic. I get by with a mixture of hand waving, vague pleading, and google translate - which often refuses to work and doesnt have Ukrainian offline
It’s a challenge
It’s also a throwBack to travel as it was decades ago. DIFFICULT
...once they have produced vegetable products at a reasonable price that taste like meat...
Go into a large supermarket (not your local Morrisons, something like a Tesco Superstore) and look at the not-meat/no meat/plant-based stuff you can buy. Things have developed extremely rapidly over the past two years: it's not your Quorn for veggies anymore.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
If that's your real ticket, you must be mental posting it here. Did you not get any opsec advice?
...wonders whether Leon has voided his kidnapping and ransom insurance...
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
I apologise that my Friday is a tiny bit more exciting than yours
Yes waiting for a bus sounds pretty exciting.
He’s no Patrick Leigh Fermor. But then, who the hell is?
He writes extremely well and I enjoy reading his work (whether on PB or elsewhere). But he is in a war zone and knowing him as we all do I thought some advice from David Niven might be useful.
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Seems like just the sort of thing that a Leon might do well to take heed of.
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
Why does it put you off?
I know / have known a fair few vegans. Some are the 'vegan police' style people who wear their suffering for their superpower on their sleeve. Most are perfectly ordinary people who do not want to put any inconvenience on anybody.
It's nothing like smoking. If someone smokes near me, it gets in my lungs even if they're ten feet away. Someone eating a nut roast at the seat next to me has zero effect on me.
Because they are preachy, whiny and annoying.
And they absolutely do inconvenience people. It means every time you hook up with them you can't cook or eat what you want and you've got to reduce your meals to the lowest common denominator so they can eat with you, which is antisocial.
So it absolutely has an effect on me.
Some are 'preachy, whiny and annoying', as I mentioned. Most are not.
People make other life choices from you: if you cannot deal with that, then that is your problem, not theirs.
Er, no. I was talking about what I found attractive and what put me on or off.
Their choices would cause problems for me and restrict my lifestyle and this would put me off.
The fact you might make a different choice is quite beside the point, unless you think the only acceptable choices in life are ones that you would make - which would be stunningly arrogant.
But as I said, that's your issue, and your problem.
As an example: I don't like tattoos. For some reason, I just don't like them. They're a bit of a turn-off, and I have to try not to judge people who have them.
But the important point is this: I understand that's my issue, and my problem, and I try not to let that judgement affect the way I interact with people who have tattoos. Now if they start suggesting I get a tattoo, I'd laugh at them - because I don't like tattoos. But I won't treat them any differently because of their choice.
In fact, I recognise that some tattoos are cool: like the lady I met who got one star / dot added for every year she had been clear of cancer, on the anniversary of receiving the all-clear.
Most of all: I think your comparison of veganism with smoking to be utterly ridiculous and childish. Pathetic, in fact. Oh dear, you might occasionally have to change what you eat to cater for someone else. What an *awful* imposition. It's exactly the same as killing me with second-hand smoke.
However, I don't agree about tattoos. In *my* case, my dislike *is* irrational. There are good reasons to dislike tattoos, but my dislike isn't based in any of those. I don't know where it comes from; certainly not my parents. But it is irrational.
I'm completely with you. Can't stand them. My girlfriend is talking about getting one and I really don't like the idea. But why? What harm does it do me?
The problem with tattoos is that people rarely stop at one. They really do seem addictive.
Tatoos are part of the female mid life crisis as much as sports cars are to men.
I recently got one of mine fixed up; I've had so much surgery on my left wrist the 'sXe' symbol looked more like 'CofE'.
The guy who did it said his customers are 3:1 women to men. He also said face tatts are going mainstream which is sicc. Soundcloud influence, I guess. Lil Peep, XXXTentacion, etc.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
Oh give over. You don't find it interesting that one of our number is bumbling around Ukraine?
“Bumbling” is the exact word. Almost no one here speaks English and everything is in Cyrillic. I get by with a mixture of hand waving, vague pleading, and google translate - which often refuses to work and doesnt have Ukrainian offline
It’s a challenge
It’s also a throwBack to travel as it was decades ago. DIFFICULT
Can’t you get AI to sort it? Or, failing that, what.three.words?
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
I apologise that my Friday is a tiny bit more exciting than yours
Yes waiting for a bus sounds pretty exciting.
…. To cross an obscure frontier on a mountain road from a country at war to a country at peace
For me, it beats the 279 to Crouch End on a dull and drizzly Friday. But maybe I’m easily pleased
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
Why does it put you off?
I know / have known a fair few vegans. Some are the 'vegan police' style people who wear their suffering for their superpower on their sleeve. Most are perfectly ordinary people who do not want to put any inconvenience on anybody.
It's nothing like smoking. If someone smokes near me, it gets in my lungs even if they're ten feet away. Someone eating a nut roast at the seat next to me has zero effect on me.
Because they are preachy, whiny and annoying.
And they absolutely do inconvenience people. It means every time you hook up with them you can't cook or eat what you want and you've got to reduce your meals to the lowest common denominator so they can eat with you, which is antisocial.
So it absolutely has an effect on me.
Some are 'preachy, whiny and annoying', as I mentioned. Most are not.
People make other life choices from you: if you cannot deal with that, then that is your problem, not theirs.
Er, no. I was talking about what I found attractive and what put me on or off.
Their choices would cause problems for me and restrict my lifestyle and this would put me off.
The fact you might make a different choice is quite beside the point, unless you think the only acceptable choices in life are ones that you would make - which would be stunningly arrogant.
But as I said, that's your issue, and your problem.
As an example: I don't like tattoos. For some reason, I just don't like them. They're a bit of a turn-off, and I have to try not to judge people who have them.
But the important point is this: I understand that's my issue, and my problem, and I try not to let that judgement affect the way I interact with people who have tattoos. Now if they start suggesting I get a tattoo, I'd laugh at them - because I don't like tattoos. But I won't treat them any differently because of their choice.
In fact, I recognise that some tattoos are cool: like the lady I met who got one star / dot added for every year she had been clear of cancer, on the anniversary of receiving the all-clear.
Most of all: I think your comparison of veganism with smoking to be utterly ridiculous and childish. Pathetic, in fact. Oh dear, you might occasionally have to change what you eat to cater for someone else. What an *awful* imposition. It's exactly the same as killing me with second-hand smoke.
However, I don't agree about tattoos. In *my* case, my dislike *is* irrational. There are good reasons to dislike tattoos, but my dislike isn't based in any of those. I don't know where it comes from; certainly not my parents. But it is irrational.
I'm completely with you. Can't stand them. My girlfriend is talking about getting one and I really don't like the idea. But why? What harm does it do me?
The problem with tattoos is that people rarely stop at one. They really do seem addictive.
Tatoos are part of the female mid life crisis as much as sports cars are to men.
I recently got one of mine fixed up; I've had so much surgery on my left wrist the 'sXe' symbol looked more like 'CofE'.
The guy who did it said his customers are 3:1 women to men. He also said face tatts are going mainstream which is sicc. Soundcloud influence, I guess. Lil Peep, XXXTentacion, etc.
I very rarely agree with CasinoRoyale, but I do think Airplane is the funniest film ever.
Though I wonder whether under 30s would find it funny.
Comedy films date very fast. It’s a miracle it’s lasted this long.
Life of Brian hasn’t aged either. Indeed it only gets more prescient and relevant
And Life if Brian is cleverer. But Airplane probably has more belly laughs
Spinal Tap completes the Top Three
Throw away lines of utter genius that cement their place as the top 3 Life of Brian: "ooh you lucky bastard" Airplane: "I say Let Em Crash" Spinal Tap: "This is called Lick My Love Pump"
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
This started when I said I wouldn't date a vegan.
JJ lost his shit, and then it started a full blown culture wars spat.
I lost my sh*t?
Seriously, re-read the thread. You appear to be the one losing it. As you did the other day.
But I'll repeat a comment I made earlier. When I met her, Mrs J was a vegetarian who wanted to be vegan. I still went out with her, and we've had many lovely years together.
If I had your attitude, I'd have missed out on that happiness.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
I apologise that my Friday is a tiny bit more exciting than yours
Yes waiting for a bus sounds pretty exciting.
He’s no Patrick Leigh Fermor. But then, who the hell is?
He writes extremely well and I enjoy reading his work (whether on PB or elsewhere). But he is in a war zone and knowing him as we all do I thought some advice from David Niven might be useful.
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Seems like just the sort of thing that a Leon might do well to take heed of.
I don't think anticipating public-transport related difficulties is the sort of self-glorification Niven had in mind.
I feel contractually obliged to add a link to "The Clash at Demonhead", with Brie Larson playing Envy Adams singing "Black Sheep". And yes, that is Superman playing guitar. I have no idea why more people do not love this film.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
I apologise that my Friday is a tiny bit more exciting than yours
Yes waiting for a bus sounds pretty exciting.
…. To cross an obscure frontier on a mountain road from a country at war to a country at peace
For me, it beats the 279 to Crouch End on a dull and drizzly Friday. But maybe I’m easily pleased
Oh god.
I am very much looking forward to hearing all about it in the Speccie or wherever, just that as a newcomer to reporting from (or in the process of leaving) war zones I thought some advice from David Niven would come in handy and you might do well to take it on board.
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
You need to strike just the right balance between bemoaning the fact that you can't get ice for your gin, and acknowledging the horror that many Ukrainians have experienced in the war. It is not an easy task but I'm sure you will be up to it.
Leaving yourself out of it all might be a good idea, but you of course know this and I appreciate you are just having a bit of fun with your PB Arms buddies.
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
Would you say you're offaly fond of it?
[The fact that this falls firmly into the category of joke that the teller enjoys far more thanthe audience makes me regret this not in the slightest]
I feel contractually obliged to add a link to "The Clash at Demonhead", with Brie Larson playing Envy Adams singing "Black Sheep". And yes, that is Superman playing guitar. I have no idea why more people do not love this film.
It absolutely bombed at the theatre, but has a massive cult following. AFAICR Highlander was the same; it did not do well at the box office, but became the most rented video.
Freaky moment: as soon as I showed up and before I could talk a burly man approached me and said “I know who you are, show me your passport, you are Leon”
Lol. I thought for a second it was @MikeSmithson unexpectedly come to ban me in person for exaggerating my wartime exploits, as David Niven explicitly warned against
Turns out the Ukrainian authorities/police keep a really beady eye on any foreigners crossing any frontier - eg booking transnational bus tickets
Yet again, however, Boris came in handy. When I confirmed I was from England he burst into a rare Slavic smile. “Ah, England. You are our friend. Good country!”
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
Why does it put you off?
I know / have known a fair few vegans. Some are the 'vegan police' style people who wear their suffering for their superpower on their sleeve. Most are perfectly ordinary people who do not want to put any inconvenience on anybody.
It's nothing like smoking. If someone smokes near me, it gets in my lungs even if they're ten feet away. Someone eating a nut roast at the seat next to me has zero effect on me.
Because they are preachy, whiny and annoying.
And they absolutely do inconvenience people. It means every time you hook up with them you can't cook or eat what you want and you've got to reduce your meals to the lowest common denominator so they can eat with you, which is antisocial.
So it absolutely has an effect on me.
Some are 'preachy, whiny and annoying', as I mentioned. Most are not.
People make other life choices from you: if you cannot deal with that, then that is your problem, not theirs.
Er, no. I was talking about what I found attractive and what put me on or off.
Their choices would cause problems for me and restrict my lifestyle and this would put me off.
The fact you might make a different choice is quite beside the point, unless you think the only acceptable choices in life are ones that you would make - which would be stunningly arrogant.
But as I said, that's your issue, and your problem.
As an example: I don't like tattoos. For some reason, I just don't like them. They're a bit of a turn-off, and I have to try not to judge people who have them.
But the important point is this: I understand that's my issue, and my problem, and I try not to let that judgement affect the way I interact with people who have tattoos. Now if they start suggesting I get a tattoo, I'd laugh at them - because I don't like tattoos. But I won't treat them any differently because of their choice.
In fact, I recognise that some tattoos are cool: like the lady I met who got one star / dot added for every year she had been clear of cancer, on the anniversary of receiving the all-clear.
Most of all: I think your comparison of veganism with smoking to be utterly ridiculous and childish. Pathetic, in fact. Oh dear, you might occasionally have to change what you eat to cater for someone else. What an *awful* imposition. It's exactly the same as killing me with second-hand smoke.
However, I don't agree about tattoos. In *my* case, my dislike *is* irrational. There are good reasons to dislike tattoos, but my dislike isn't based in any of those. I don't know where it comes from; certainly not my parents. But it is irrational.
I'm completely with you. Can't stand them. My girlfriend is talking about getting one and I really don't like the idea. But why? What harm does it do me?
The problem with tattoos is that people rarely stop at one. They really do seem addictive.
Tatoos are part of the female mid life crisis as much as sports cars are to men.
I recently got one of mine fixed up; I've had so much surgery on my left wrist the 'sXe' symbol looked more like 'CofE'.
The guy who did it said his customers are 3:1 women to men. He also said face tatts are going mainstream which is sicc. Soundcloud influence, I guess. Lil Peep, XXXTentacion, etc.
Face tats were pretty normal when I was in NZ, some traditional Polynesian stuff, but a lot that was more contemporary.
Ex prisoners almost all had a cross on their lower forehead. Part of prison induction by fellow cons, but marked them for life and made it hard to go straight. Some would disguise it unconvincingly, but fairly easy in Christchurch to spot who had been inside.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
Oh give over. You don't find it interesting that one of our number is bumbling around Ukraine?
“Bumbling” is the exact word. Almost no one here speaks English and everything is in Cyrillic. I get by with a mixture of hand waving, vague pleading, and google translate - which often refuses to work and doesnt have Ukrainian offline
It’s a challenge
It’s also a throwBack to travel as it was decades ago. DIFFICULT
Get yersel to the Zero Line in the east, pa.
Nobody needs another beer/laptop photo from somewhere perfectly safe.
Or enter Russia and go to Donetsk or Crimea. That would be interesting.
Freaky moment: as soon as I showed up and before I could talk a burly man approached me and said “I know who you are, show me your passport, you are Leon”
Lol. I thought for a second it was @MikeSmithson unexpectedly come to ban me in person for exaggerating my wartime exploits, as David Niven explicitly warned against
Turns out the Ukrainian authorities/police keep a really beady eye on any foreigners crossing any frontier - eg booking transnational bus tickets
Yet again, however, Boris came in handy. When I confirmed I was from England he burst into a rare Slavic smile. “Ah, England. You are our friend. Good country!”
They really do like us
I would listen to David Niven over Trevor Howard about these things, the latter's wartime record being subject to debate and, it is said, a great deal of, er, self-glorification. And he was in the actual army.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
I apologise that my Friday is a tiny bit more exciting than yours
Yes waiting for a bus sounds pretty exciting.
…. To cross an obscure frontier on a mountain road from a country at war to a country at peace
For me, it beats the 279 to Crouch End on a dull and drizzly Friday. But maybe I’m easily pleased
Oh god.
I am very much looking forward to hearing all about it in the Speccie or wherever, just that as a newcomer to reporting from (or in the process of leaving) war zones I thought some advice from David Niven would come in handy and you might do well to take it on board.
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
You need to strike just the right balance between bemoaning the fact that you can't get ice for your gin, and acknowledging the horror that many Ukrainians have experienced in the war. It is not an easy task but I'm sure you will be up to it.
Leaving yourself out of it all might be a good idea, but you of course know this and I appreciate you are just having a bit of fun with your PB Arms buddies.
"...as I lounged in the beer garden of my - horrors - three star hotel 500 miles from the front, staring at the young women frowning at me and edging away nervously, I was stuck by the fleeting evanescence of youth and beauty and the bravery of the young men fighting so very, very far away from me..."
For LOLs I just clicked onto 'Rachel Riley' on the 'trending' section on the dumpster-fire formerly known as Twitter.
The amount of hate towards her from the left is frankly worrying. I haven't investigated the allegations against her (*), but the froth-mouthed, spittle-flecked screeching against her kinda makes me feel that she's in the right.
(*) Partly because the mere fact of her existence seems to annoy them.
Mostly it's because she is Jewish, albeit Atheist.
She is vegan too, so something to offend the other headbangers...
That last bit has put me off.
Like finding out someone you really fancy is a smoker.
Why does it put you off?
I know / have known a fair few vegans. Some are the 'vegan police' style people who wear their suffering for their superpower on their sleeve. Most are perfectly ordinary people who do not want to put any inconvenience on anybody.
It's nothing like smoking. If someone smokes near me, it gets in my lungs even if they're ten feet away. Someone eating a nut roast at the seat next to me has zero effect on me.
Because they are preachy, whiny and annoying.
And they absolutely do inconvenience people. It means every time you hook up with them you can't cook or eat what you want and you've got to reduce your meals to the lowest common denominator so they can eat with you, which is antisocial.
So it absolutely has an effect on me.
Some are 'preachy, whiny and annoying', as I mentioned. Most are not.
People make other life choices from you: if you cannot deal with that, then that is your problem, not theirs.
Er, no. I was talking about what I found attractive and what put me on or off.
Their choices would cause problems for me and restrict my lifestyle and this would put me off.
The fact you might make a different choice is quite beside the point, unless you think the only acceptable choices in life are ones that you would make - which would be stunningly arrogant.
But as I said, that's your issue, and your problem.
As an example: I don't like tattoos. For some reason, I just don't like them. They're a bit of a turn-off, and I have to try not to judge people who have them.
But the important point is this: I understand that's my issue, and my problem, and I try not to let that judgement affect the way I interact with people who have tattoos. Now if they start suggesting I get a tattoo, I'd laugh at them - because I don't like tattoos. But I won't treat them any differently because of their choice.
In fact, I recognise that some tattoos are cool: like the lady I met who got one star / dot added for every year she had been clear of cancer, on the anniversary of receiving the all-clear.
Most of all: I think your comparison of veganism with smoking to be utterly ridiculous and childish. Pathetic, in fact. Oh dear, you might occasionally have to change what you eat to cater for someone else. What an *awful* imposition. It's exactly the same as killing me with second-hand smoke.
However, I don't agree about tattoos. In *my* case, my dislike *is* irrational. There are good reasons to dislike tattoos, but my dislike isn't based in any of those. I don't know where it comes from; certainly not my parents. But it is irrational.
I'm completely with you. Can't stand them. My girlfriend is talking about getting one and I really don't like the idea. But why? What harm does it do me?
The problem with tattoos is that people rarely stop at one. They really do seem addictive.
Tatoos are part of the female mid life crisis as much as sports cars are to men.
I recently got one of mine fixed up; I've had so much surgery on my left wrist the 'sXe' symbol looked more like 'CofE'.
The guy who did it said his customers are 3:1 women to men. He also said face tatts are going mainstream which is sicc. Soundcloud influence, I guess. Lil Peep, XXXTentacion, etc.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
I apologise that my Friday is a tiny bit more exciting than yours
Yes waiting for a bus sounds pretty exciting.
…. To cross an obscure frontier on a mountain road from a country at war to a country at peace
For me, it beats the 279 to Crouch End on a dull and drizzly Friday. But maybe I’m easily pleased
Oh god.
I am very much looking forward to hearing all about it in the Speccie or wherever, just that as a newcomer to reporting from (or in the process of leaving) war zones I thought some advice from David Niven would come in handy and you might do well to take it on board.
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
You need to strike just the right balance between bemoaning the fact that you can't get ice for your gin, and acknowledging the horror that many Ukrainians have experienced in the war. It is not an easy task but I'm sure you will be up to it.
Leaving yourself out of it all might be a good idea, but you of course know this and I appreciate you are just having a bit of fun with your PB Arms buddies.
You forget that during one of the Israeli Lebanese wars I was held at gunpoint by Hezbollah for an evening in a small Arab town that was, at the same time, being mercilessly shelled and strafed by the Israelis
Our survival (I was with a photographer) was frankly miraculous
So, no, not a newbie. An idiot yes. But not entirely naive
I feel contractually obliged to add a link to "The Clash at Demonhead", with Brie Larson playing Envy Adams singing "Black Sheep". And yes, that is Superman playing guitar. I have no idea why more people do not love this film.
It absolutely bombed at the theatre, but has a massive cult following. AFAICR Highlander was the same; it did not do well at the box office, but became the most rented video.
DON'T USE THE TERM "BOMBED"
When we have a fellow PBer in the teeth of the action over in Ukraine.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
If that's your real ticket, you must be mental posting it here. Did you not get any opsec advice?
...wonders whether Leon has voided his kidnapping and ransom insurance...
{Tyler Rake has entered the chat, and massacred everyone in a 2 km radius}
When the Green Party selected Sian Berry to be its candidate to defend the Brighton Pavilion seat at the next general election, I wrote that “Sian has no know links to the city while being heavily committed to London. She will be seen as a carpetbagger and an opportunist who is being parachuted in from afar.” A bit harsh, perhaps, but a positive factor for Labour.
I also warned that Labour “has been slow off the mark in selecting its candidate, surprising really as Brighton Pavilion is one of its key targets…” I said that the party “needs to select a sensible, local candidate. Choose badly and it might let the Greens back in.”
So today’s news today that Eddie Izzard wants to be Labour’s candidate must be music to the ears of Sian Berry and the Greens. Like Berry, Izzard has no know links to the city while being heavily committed elsewhere, will be seen as a carpetbagger and an opportunist who is parachuting in from afar.” Choosing Izzard would neutralise an advantage that Labour might otherwise have.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
Oh give over. You don't find it interesting that one of our number is bumbling around Ukraine?
“Bumbling” is the exact word. Almost no one here speaks English and everything is in Cyrillic. I get by with a mixture of hand waving, vague pleading, and google translate - which often refuses to work and doesnt have Ukrainian offline
It’s a challenge
It’s also a throwBack to travel as it was decades ago. DIFFICULT
Get yersel to the Zero Line in the east, pa.
Nobody needs another beer/laptop photo from somewhere perfectly safe.
Or enter Russia and go to Donetsk or Crimea. That would be interesting.
Is this conversation an example of what the young people of 40 years ago referred to as "jumping the shark"?
Freaky moment: as soon as I showed up and before I could talk a burly man approached me and said “I know who you are, show me your passport, you are Leon”
Lol. I thought for a second it was @MikeSmithson unexpectedly come to ban me in person for exaggerating my wartime exploits, as David Niven explicitly warned against
Turns out the Ukrainian authorities/police keep a really beady eye on any foreigners crossing any frontier - eg booking transnational bus tickets
Yet again, however, Boris came in handy. When I confirmed I was from England he burst into a rare Slavic smile. “Ah, England. You are our friend. Good country!”
They really do like us
I would listen to David Niven over Trevor Howard about these things, the latter's wartime record being subject to debate and, it is said, a great deal of, er, self-glorification. And he was in the actual army.
David Niven stories consisted of the stories of everyone he knew, plus a bit of er.... improvement.
I feel contractually obliged to add a link to "The Clash at Demonhead", with Brie Larson playing Envy Adams singing "Black Sheep". And yes, that is Superman playing guitar. I have no idea why more people do not love this film.
It absolutely bombed at the theatre, but has a massive cult following. AFAICR Highlander was the same; it did not do well at the box office, but became the most rented video.
I cannot watch the first two series of "Star Trek: Picard" without muttering "We are Sex Bob-Omb and we are here to shoot phasers and blow up shit and stuff". My headspace has some really weird crossovers.
I feel contractually obliged to add a link to "The Clash at Demonhead", with Brie Larson playing Envy Adams singing "Black Sheep". And yes, that is Superman playing guitar. I have no idea why more people do not love this film.
It absolutely bombed at the theatre, but has a massive cult following. AFAICR Highlander was the same; it did not do well at the box office, but became the most rented video.
I cannot watch the first two series of "Star Trek: Picard" without muttering "We are Sex Bob-Omb and we are here to shoot phasers and blow up shit and stuff". My headspace has some really weird crossovers.
Oh God, let's not get onto the Picard discussion again....
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
Oh give over. You don't find it interesting that one of our number is bumbling around Ukraine?
“Bumbling” is the exact word. Almost no one here speaks English and everything is in Cyrillic. I get by with a mixture of hand waving, vague pleading, and google translate - which often refuses to work and doesnt have Ukrainian offline
It’s a challenge
It’s also a throwBack to travel as it was decades ago. DIFFICULT
Get yersel to the Zero Line in the east, pa.
Nobody needs another beer/laptop photo from somewhere perfectly safe.
Or enter Russia and go to Donetsk or Crimea. That would be interesting.
Actually I dispute this. I am reading an awful lot of coverage of Ukraine - for obvious reasons - and 99% of it is from the front. Which is understandable. That’s where the death and the drama can be found
Yet the war in the home front has its own curiosity and strangeness and profundity. That mafia hotel I just left. Fresh oysters flown in for billionaires
All the men on leave on crutches. The towns that have been bombed almost at random in the deep countryside. The amputees. The lonely women drinking together. The mad things at the frontier
It’s a compelling spectacle, even if it lacks the excitement of cowering in a shelter in bakhmut
I intend to come back. Probably very soon. I might edge nearer the fighting…
Basically, absent any better solution, staff at NHS Lanarkshire were using a Whatsapp group to share patient information during the Covid outbreak when in-person discussions were hard. It's encrypted, right? At some point, an unapproved person was added to the group.
I feel contractually obliged to add a link to "The Clash at Demonhead", with Brie Larson playing Envy Adams singing "Black Sheep". And yes, that is Superman playing guitar. I have no idea why more people do not love this film.
It absolutely bombed at the theatre, but has a massive cult following. AFAICR Highlander was the same; it did not do well at the box office, but became the most rented video.
DON'T USE THE TERM "BOMBED"
When we have a fellow PBer in the teeth of the action over in Ukraine.
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
This started when I said I wouldn't date a vegan.
JJ lost his shit, and then it started a full blown culture wars spat.
I lost my sh*t?
Seriously, re-read the thread. You appear to be the one losing it. As you did the other day.
But I'll repeat a comment I made earlier. When I met her, Mrs J was a vegetarian who wanted to be vegan. I still went out with her, and we've had many lovely years together.
If I had your attitude, I'd have missed out on that happiness.
When the Green Party selected Sian Berry to be its candidate to defend the Brighton Pavilion seat at the next general election, I wrote that “Sian has no know links to the city while being heavily committed to London. She will be seen as a carpetbagger and an opportunist who is being parachuted in from afar.” A bit harsh, perhaps, but a positive factor for Labour.
I also warned that Labour “has been slow off the mark in selecting its candidate, surprising really as Brighton Pavilion is one of its key targets…” I said that the party “needs to select a sensible, local candidate. Choose badly and it might let the Greens back in.”
So today’s news today that Eddie Izzard wants to be Labour’s candidate must be music to the ears of Sian Berry and the Greens. Like Berry, Izzard has no know links to the city while being heavily committed elsewhere, will be seen as a carpetbagger and an opportunist who is parachuting in from afar.” Choosing Izzard would neutralise an advantage that Labour might otherwise have.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
I apologise that my Friday is a tiny bit more exciting than yours
Yes waiting for a bus sounds pretty exciting.
…. To cross an obscure frontier on a mountain road from a country at war to a country at peace
For me, it beats the 279 to Crouch End on a dull and drizzly Friday. But maybe I’m easily pleased
Oh god.
I am very much looking forward to hearing all about it in the Speccie or wherever, just that as a newcomer to reporting from (or in the process of leaving) war zones I thought some advice from David Niven would come in handy and you might do well to take it on board.
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
You need to strike just the right balance between bemoaning the fact that you can't get ice for your gin, and acknowledging the horror that many Ukrainians have experienced in the war. It is not an easy task but I'm sure you will be up to it.
Leaving yourself out of it all might be a good idea, but you of course know this and I appreciate you are just having a bit of fun with your PB Arms buddies.
You forget that during one of the Israeli Lebanese wars I was held at gunpoint by Hezbollah for an evening in a small Arab town that was, at the same time, being mercilessly shelled and strafed by the Israelis
Our survival (I was with a photographer) was frankly miraculous
So, no, not a newbie. An idiot yes. But not entirely naive
As I said it is going to be a difficult balancing act to write up your particular experiences and I have no doubt, because it is what you do, that you will strike the right one (no ice vs triple amputees, etc).
And yes we may never hear the end of your being held at gunpoint by Hezbollah and I appreciate your seeking to credentialise yourself on silly old PB.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
I apologise that my Friday is a tiny bit more exciting than yours
Yes waiting for a bus sounds pretty exciting.
…. To cross an obscure frontier on a mountain road from a country at war to a country at peace
For me, it beats the 279 to Crouch End on a dull and drizzly Friday. But maybe I’m easily pleased
Oh god.
I am very much looking forward to hearing all about it in the Speccie or wherever, just that as a newcomer to reporting from (or in the process of leaving) war zones I thought some advice from David Niven would come in handy and you might do well to take it on board.
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
You need to strike just the right balance between bemoaning the fact that you can't get ice for your gin, and acknowledging the horror that many Ukrainians have experienced in the war. It is not an easy task but I'm sure you will be up to it.
Leaving yourself out of it all might be a good idea, but you of course know this and I appreciate you are just having a bit of fun with your PB Arms buddies.
You forget that during one of the Israeli Lebanese wars I was held at gunpoint by Hezbollah for an evening in a small Arab town that was, at the same time, being mercilessly shelled and strafed by the Israelis
Our survival (I was with a photographer) was frankly miraculous
So, no, not a newbie. An idiot yes. But not entirely naive
As I said it is going to be a difficult balancing act to write up your particular experiences and I have no doubt, because it is what you do, that you will strike the right one (no ice vs triple amputees, etc).
And yes we may never hear the end of your being held at gunpoint by Hezbollah and I appreciate your seeking to credentialise yourself on silly old PB.
Just a minor correction. I am not entirely new to this
I feel contractually obliged to add a link to "The Clash at Demonhead", with Brie Larson playing Envy Adams singing "Black Sheep". And yes, that is Superman playing guitar. I have no idea why more people do not love this film.
It absolutely bombed at the theatre, but has a massive cult following. AFAICR Highlander was the same; it did not do well at the box office, but became the most rented video.
I cannot watch the first two series of "Star Trek: Picard" without muttering "We are Sex Bob-Omb and we are here to shoot phasers and blow up shit and stuff". My headspace has some really weird crossovers.
Oh God, let's not get onto the Picard discussion again....
Should force the government to start to get its act together on charging infrastructure - perhaps in time for all of us late adopters, towards the end of the decade.
I feel contractually obliged to add a link to "The Clash at Demonhead", with Brie Larson playing Envy Adams singing "Black Sheep". And yes, that is Superman playing guitar. I have no idea why more people do not love this film.
It absolutely bombed at the theatre, but has a massive cult following. AFAICR Highlander was the same; it did not do well at the box office, but became the most rented video.
There Can Be Only One. [Definitely no spin offs or sequels]
It is obligatory to maintain the pose if you reach the top of the Cioch although I have to say there is less room than there looks, and it slopes in a somewhat disconcerting manner. There was a plastic sword left up there for the purpose for a while.
I don't know if Sean Connery did his own stunts for this one. Good for him if he did.
I feel contractually obliged to add a link to "The Clash at Demonhead", with Brie Larson playing Envy Adams singing "Black Sheep". And yes, that is Superman playing guitar. I have no idea why more people do not love this film.
It absolutely bombed at the theatre, but has a massive cult following. AFAICR Highlander was the same; it did not do well at the box office, but became the most rented video.
I cannot watch the first two series of "Star Trek: Picard" without muttering "We are Sex Bob-Omb and we are here to shoot phasers and blow up shit and stuff". My headspace has some really weird crossovers.
Oh God, let's not get onto the Picard discussion again....
I feel contractually obliged to add a link to "The Clash at Demonhead", with Brie Larson playing Envy Adams singing "Black Sheep". And yes, that is Superman playing guitar. I have no idea why more people do not love this film.
It absolutely bombed at the theatre, but has a massive cult following. AFAICR Highlander was the same; it did not do well at the box office, but became the most rented video.
There Can Be Only One. [Definitely no spin offs or sequels]
It is obligatory to maintain the pose if you reach the top of the Cioch although I have to say there is less room than there looks, and it slopes in a somewhat disconcerting manner. There was a plastic sword left up there for the purpose for a while.
I don't know if Sean Connery did his own stunts for this one. Good for him if he did.
Yonks ago I did read that they got helicoptered onto a summit for some shots. Unsure if it was that one.
I am booked on a bus to take me over the Ukrainian border, in the carpathians, and down into Romania
I have no idea if the bus will turn up (the last few haven’t) or if I will make it over the frontier even if I do (I’ve heard tales of major difficulties)
Exciting. It’s like being in a war
Ah, that’s it
I think you need to ration your warzone jeopardy posts to keep the necessary excitement up. Keep it to 12a or 15 rated dangers at least. Worrying a bus to Romania may be a bit late is more U: occasional mild threat.
They aren’t late. They just don’t show up. I admit this isn’t exactly the Blitz but it will leave me stranded In Chernowitz and I really need to be back in London tomorrow for a stag night
What makes it iffier is I’ve no evidence of anyone else using this route out of Ukraine
Cbernovtsi, Ukraine - Suceava, Romania
David Niven made several good films. Was also wise about other stuff:
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Er, I’m commenting anonymously on a forum for political geeks, not writing about my derring-do in The Times
Besides, public transport is PB’s obsession of the week. I’m offering my experiences of long distant coach services during a war
A valuable service much appreciated. What was the tyre spec of the coaches?
I can only offer this
Which all looks great until you see this. Basically it’s a shit show and a lottery. AND I am trying a route hitherto unused by many as far as I can see. The established routes are Poland-Lviv and Moldova-Odessa
So, yes, it’s a tiny bit tricker than “the late bus from Oxford to Woodstock”
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Should never be far from your mind.
I apologise that my Friday is a tiny bit more exciting than yours
Yes waiting for a bus sounds pretty exciting.
…. To cross an obscure frontier on a mountain road from a country at war to a country at peace
For me, it beats the 279 to Crouch End on a dull and drizzly Friday. But maybe I’m easily pleased
Oh god.
I am very much looking forward to hearing all about it in the Speccie or wherever, just that as a newcomer to reporting from (or in the process of leaving) war zones I thought some advice from David Niven would come in handy and you might do well to take it on board.
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
You need to strike just the right balance between bemoaning the fact that you can't get ice for your gin, and acknowledging the horror that many Ukrainians have experienced in the war. It is not an easy task but I'm sure you will be up to it.
Leaving yourself out of it all might be a good idea, but you of course know this and I appreciate you are just having a bit of fun with your PB Arms buddies.
You forget that during one of the Israeli Lebanese wars I was held at gunpoint by Hezbollah for an evening in a small Arab town that was, at the same time, being mercilessly shelled and strafed by the Israelis
Our survival (I was with a photographer) was frankly miraculous
So, no, not a newbie. An idiot yes. But not entirely naive
As I said it is going to be a difficult balancing act to write up your particular experiences and I have no doubt, because it is what you do, that you will strike the right one (no ice vs triple amputees, etc).
And yes we may never hear the end of your being held at gunpoint by Hezbollah and I appreciate your seeking to credentialise yourself on silly old PB.
Just a minor correction. I am not entirely new to this
...once they have produced vegetable products at a reasonable price that taste like meat...
Go into a large supermarket (not your local Morrisons, something like a Tesco Superstore) and look at the not-meat/no meat/plant-based stuff you can buy. Things have developed extremely rapidly over the past two years: it's not your Quorn for veggies anymore.
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
Omg the tripe sausage . I accidentally ordered that in a salad once . the taste and smell are one of the worst things I’ve ever had the misfortune to come across . I laughed when I read online others observations with one calling it hell on a plate .
You must have a very hardy constitution!
I’ll edit this it was indeed the worst thing I’ve ever eaten . To put it into one of the worst doesn’t do it justice !
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
Omg the tripe sausage . I accidentally ordered that in a salad once . the taste and smell are one of the worst things I’ve ever had the misfortune to come across . I laughed when I read online others observations with one calling it hell on a plate .
You must have a very hardy constitution!
I’ll edit this it was indeed the worst thing I’ve ever eaten . To put it into one of the worst doesn’t do it justice !
Andouillette
Absolutely delicious with proper French fries and a cold cold beer
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
Omg the tripe sausage . I accidentally ordered that in a salad once . the taste and smell are one of the worst things I’ve ever had the misfortune to come across . I laughed when I read online others observations with one calling it hell on a plate .
You must have a very hardy constitution!
Tried andouillette once, and it is pretty vile. Good form demanded that I eat it all, of course.
The driver just made an enormously long announcement which at one point seemed to suggest we are going to Donetsk. Er
I did a Google translate on his final words
You openly posted details of your ticket on a forum which is monitored by the Russian authorities. If you end up in Donetsk - and I hope you don't - perhaps that was an unwise thing to do?
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
Omg the tripe sausage . I accidentally ordered that in a salad once . the taste and smell are one of the worst things I’ve ever had the misfortune to come across . I laughed when I read online others observations with one calling it hell on a plate .
You must have a very hardy constitution!
I’ll edit this it was indeed the worst thing I’ve ever eaten . To put it into one of the worst doesn’t do it justice !
Not knowing what you are eating helps. A Romanian wedding I once went to had about eight courses at the meal. One had a series of small cooked meat pieces with dip sauces. They were rather nice. I also later found out they were brains and offal. I'm unsure I'd have liked them so much if I had known.
The driver just made an enormously long announcement which at one point seemed to suggest we are going to Donetsk. Er
I did a Google translate on his final words
You openly posted details of your ticket on a forum which is monitored by the Russian authorities. If you end up in Donetsk - and I hope you don't - perhaps that was an unwise thing to do?
If I get stopped at the frontier, and am hurried away with a sack over my head, for months of torture in Mariupol, I’ll be sure to keep you posted with photos of my meals
...once they have produced vegetable products at a reasonable price that taste like meat...
Go into a large supermarket (not your local Morrisons, something like a Tesco Superstore) and look at the not-meat/no meat/plant-based stuff you can buy. Things have developed extremely rapidly over the past two years: it's not your Quorn for veggies anymore.
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
Omg the tripe sausage . I accidentally ordered that in a salad once . the taste and smell are one of the worst things I’ve ever had the misfortune to come across . I laughed when I read online others observations with one calling it hell on a plate .
You must have a very hardy constitution!
I’ll edit this it was indeed the worst thing I’ve ever eaten . To put it into one of the worst doesn’t do it justice !
Andouillette
Absolutely delicious with proper French fries and a cold cold beer
You, sir, are a Heathen
Perhaps it’s a gene thing , you know like some people can’t eat fresh coriander because it tastes like perfume . All I know is that the after taste lasted 2 days .
I’d rather eat a tin of dog food than ever lay eyes on the hell on a plate again .
...once they have produced vegetable products at a reasonable price that taste like meat...
Go into a large supermarket (not your local Morrisons, something like a Tesco Superstore) and look at the not-meat/no meat/plant-based stuff you can buy. Things have developed extremely rapidly over the past two years: it's not your Quorn for veggies anymore.
The driver just made an enormously long announcement which at one point seemed to suggest we are going to Donetsk. Er
I did a Google translate on his final words
You openly posted details of your ticket on a forum which is monitored by the Russian authorities. If you end up in Donetsk - and I hope you don't - perhaps that was an unwise thing to do?
If I get stopped at the frontier, and am hurried away with a sack over my head, for months of torture in Mariupol, I’ll be sure to keep you posted with photos of my meals
As will Svetlana, the human who endlessly shitposts this site using a series of sockpuppets.
The driver just made an enormously long announcement which at one point seemed to suggest we are going to Donetsk. Er
I did a Google translate on his final words
You openly posted details of your ticket on a forum which is monitored by the Russian authorities. If you end up in Donetsk - and I hope you don't - perhaps that was an unwise thing to do?
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
Omg the tripe sausage . I accidentally ordered that in a salad once . the taste and smell are one of the worst things I’ve ever had the misfortune to come across . I laughed when I read online others observations with one calling it hell on a plate .
You must have a very hardy constitution!
I’ll edit this it was indeed the worst thing I’ve ever eaten . To put it into one of the worst doesn’t do it justice !
Not knowing what you are eating helps. A Romanian wedding I once went to had about eight courses at the meal. One had a series of small cooked meat pieces with dip sauces. They were rather nice. I also later found out they were brains and offal. I'm unsure I'd have liked them so much if I had known.
Taste can be weird like that.
Not with the French sausage. ..True andouillettes are rarely seen outside France and have a strong, distinctive odour coming from the colon...
I had no idea what I was ordering at the time (pre internet) and thought it looked interesting on the French only menu.
Rather nice it was not; definitely an example of 'true' andouillette.
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
Omg the tripe sausage . I accidentally ordered that in a salad once . the taste and smell are one of the worst things I’ve ever had the misfortune to come across . I laughed when I read online others observations with one calling it hell on a plate .
You must have a very hardy constitution!
I’ll edit this it was indeed the worst thing I’ve ever eaten . To put it into one of the worst doesn’t do it justice !
Not knowing what you are eating helps. A Romanian wedding I once went to had about eight courses at the meal. One had a series of small cooked meat pieces with dip sauces. They were rather nice. I also later found out they were brains and offal. I'm unsure I'd have liked them so much if I had known.
Taste can be weird like that.
Not with the French sausage. ..True andouillettes are rarely seen outside France and have a strong, distinctive odour coming from the colon...
I had no idea what I was ordering at the time (pre internet) and thought it looked interesting on the French only menu.
Rather nice it was not; definitely an example of 'true' andouillette.
The driver just made an enormously long announcement which at one point seemed to suggest we are going to Donetsk. Er
I did a Google translate on his final words
You openly posted details of your ticket on a forum which is monitored by the Russian authorities. If you end up in Donetsk - and I hope you don't - perhaps that was an unwise thing to do?
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
Omg the tripe sausage . I accidentally ordered that in a salad once . the taste and smell are one of the worst things I’ve ever had the misfortune to come across . I laughed when I read online others observations with one calling it hell on a plate .
You must have a very hardy constitution!
I’ll edit this it was indeed the worst thing I’ve ever eaten . To put it into one of the worst doesn’t do it justice !
Not knowing what you are eating helps. A Romanian wedding I once went to had about eight courses at the meal. One had a series of small cooked meat pieces with dip sauces. They were rather nice. I also later found out they were brains and offal. I'm unsure I'd have liked them so much if I had known.
Taste can be weird like that.
Not with the French sausage. ..True andouillettes are rarely seen outside France and have a strong, distinctive odour coming from the colon...
I had no idea what I was ordering at the time (pre internet) and thought it looked interesting on the French only menu.
Rather nice it was not; definitely an example of 'true' andouillette.
Yes, that is the one. Not a sight or taste you forget.
Though maybe I was just unlucky "..."When you've tasted a few, it's quite clear," says Delpal. "Either it's very, very good, or it's disgusting. There's no middle ground.".
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
Omg the tripe sausage . I accidentally ordered that in a salad once . the taste and smell are one of the worst things I’ve ever had the misfortune to come across . I laughed when I read online others observations with one calling it hell on a plate .
You must have a very hardy constitution!
I’ll edit this it was indeed the worst thing I’ve ever eaten . To put it into one of the worst doesn’t do it justice !
Talking of rank, and I didn't try it but it smelt bad enough, fermented fish in Scandanavia is utterly revolting.
Interesting! Looks like there is _something_ going on.
All the samples seem to tilt as if they either aren't 100% pure, or there's some directionality to the effect.
The theoretical analysis that’s been published suggests that the superconducting effect occurs down linear channels in the crystallised material, so you’d expect some directionality in the bulk properties I would imagine.
Can confirm. Rural Transylvania is a lethally dangerous place, primarily because bears and wolves and secondarily because huge numbers of seriously big fierce sheepdogs to defend sheep from them, and from passing tourists.
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
Omg the tripe sausage . I accidentally ordered that in a salad once . the taste and smell are one of the worst things I’ve ever had the misfortune to come across . I laughed when I read online others observations with one calling it hell on a plate .
You must have a very hardy constitution!
I’ll edit this it was indeed the worst thing I’ve ever eaten . To put it into one of the worst doesn’t do it justice !
Not knowing what you are eating helps. A Romanian wedding I once went to had about eight courses at the meal. One had a series of small cooked meat pieces with dip sauces. They were rather nice. I also later found out they were brains and offal. I'm unsure I'd have liked them so much if I had known.
Taste can be weird like that.
Not with the French sausage. ..True andouillettes are rarely seen outside France and have a strong, distinctive odour coming from the colon...
I had no idea what I was ordering at the time (pre internet) and thought it looked interesting on the French only menu.
Rather nice it was not; definitely an example of 'true' andouillette.
Andouillette should have a faint odour of uric acid. You get over it. They are delicious
The foulest smelling food I have ever encountered is tinned fermented silkworm larvae. A tasty snack in South Korea
The smell was enough to make me gag as soon as I opened the tin. Indescribably awful. Satan’s arse after a fish curry
I wrapped it all in three plastic bags and took it outside my hotel to a public bin. That bad
When the Green Party selected Sian Berry to be its candidate to defend the Brighton Pavilion seat at the next general election, I wrote that “Sian has no know links to the city while being heavily committed to London. She will be seen as a carpetbagger and an opportunist who is being parachuted in from afar.” A bit harsh, perhaps, but a positive factor for Labour.
I also warned that Labour “has been slow off the mark in selecting its candidate, surprising really as Brighton Pavilion is one of its key targets…” I said that the party “needs to select a sensible, local candidate. Choose badly and it might let the Greens back in.”
So today’s news today that Eddie Izzard wants to be Labour’s candidate must be music to the ears of Sian Berry and the Greens. Like Berry, Izzard has no know links to the city while being heavily committed elsewhere, will be seen as a carpetbagger and an opportunist who is parachuting in from afar.” Choosing Izzard would neutralise an advantage that Labour might otherwise have.
Freaky moment: as soon as I showed up and before I could talk a burly man approached me and said “I know who you are, show me your passport, you are Leon”
Lol. I thought for a second it was @MikeSmithson unexpectedly come to ban me in person for exaggerating my wartime exploits, as David Niven explicitly warned against
Turns out the Ukrainian authorities/police keep a really beady eye on any foreigners crossing any frontier - eg booking transnational bus tickets
Yet again, however, Boris came in handy. When I confirmed I was from England he burst into a rare Slavic smile. “Ah, England. You are our friend. Good country!”
I love meat. The meatier the better. I like offal a lot. When in France, I love the tripe sausage and the waiters are always surprised since I am obviously not an elderly red-faced Frenchman (ie the usual market for tripe sausage).
(I also love venison, for the record).
But vegans can do their thing, who cares?
Omg the tripe sausage . I accidentally ordered that in a salad once . the taste and smell are one of the worst things I’ve ever had the misfortune to come across . I laughed when I read online others observations with one calling it hell on a plate .
You must have a very hardy constitution!
I’ll edit this it was indeed the worst thing I’ve ever eaten . To put it into one of the worst doesn’t do it justice !
Not knowing what you are eating helps. A Romanian wedding I once went to had about eight courses at the meal. One had a series of small cooked meat pieces with dip sauces. They were rather nice. I also later found out they were brains and offal. I'm unsure I'd have liked them so much if I had known.
Taste can be weird like that.
Not with the French sausage. ..True andouillettes are rarely seen outside France and have a strong, distinctive odour coming from the colon...
I had no idea what I was ordering at the time (pre internet) and thought it looked interesting on the French only menu.
Rather nice it was not; definitely an example of 'true' andouillette.
The issue is it’s not actually tripe (which is more neutral tasting), it’s intestine and kidney tubes.
I tried one at a motorway services a couple of years ago as it’s always on the menu especially if you’re anywhere near Troyes. It starts fine: slightly Offaly sausage. But the kicker is the initially mild ammonia hum which gets stronger and stronger with each mouthful. Really not pleasant.
Interesting! Looks like there is _something_ going on.
All the samples seem to tilt as if they either aren't 100% pure, or there's some directionality to the effect.
The theoretical analysis that’s been published suggests that the superconducting effect occurs down linear channels in the crystallised material, so you’d expect some directionality in the bulk properties I would imagine.
And that's a first effort - they've several more in the furnace.
The driver just made an enormously long announcement which at one point seemed to suggest we are going to Donetsk. Er
I did a Google translate on his final words
You openly posted details of your ticket on a forum which is monitored by the Russian authorities. If you end up in Donetsk - and I hope you don't - perhaps that was an unwise thing to do?
Might be some mileage in it given who used to edit that rag. Also the narcos who work the Ukraine-Romania and Ukraine-Moldova borders might fancy a go. Screw the politics.
He's so experienced he must know that DeepL is a better translator than Google Translate. That capitalised apparent gobbledegook probably contains a What3Words ref.
Or else he's pulling everybody's plonker (same as when he kept posting photos of Hitler) and he's already in Romania.
Comments
It's not as though he's masquerading as a serious journalist.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/305836057
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/313175285
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/289839049
I recall posting this well known psychological rule on PB a few months ago. Some people got outraged
But then, who the hell is?
It’s a challenge
It’s also a throwBack to travel as it was decades ago. DIFFICULT
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
Seems like just the sort of thing that a Leon might do well to take heed of.
The guy who did it said his customers are 3:1 women to men. He also said face tatts are going mainstream which is sicc. Soundcloud influence, I guess. Lil Peep, XXXTentacion, etc.
Or, failing that, what.three.words?
For me, it beats the 279 to Crouch End on a
dull and drizzly Friday. But maybe I’m easily pleased
The safer parts I mean. I’m a total coward.
Leon is very lucky.
Isn't XXXT dead ?
Life of Brian: "ooh you lucky bastard"
Airplane: "I say Let Em Crash"
Spinal Tap: "This is called Lick My Love Pump"
Seriously, re-read the thread. You appear to be the one losing it. As you did the other day.
But I'll repeat a comment I made earlier. When I met her, Mrs J was a vegetarian who wanted to be vegan. I still went out with her, and we've had many lovely years together.
If I had your attitude, I'd have missed out on that happiness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ideJGov8c9E&t=112s
https://scottpilgrim.fandom.com/wiki/The_Clash_at_Demonhead
I am very much looking forward to hearing all about it in the Speccie or wherever, just that as a newcomer to reporting from (or in the process of leaving) war zones I thought some advice from David Niven would come in handy and you might do well to take it on board.
"Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering the war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences."
You need to strike just the right balance between bemoaning the fact that you can't get ice for your gin, and acknowledging the horror that many Ukrainians have experienced in the war. It is not an easy task but I'm sure you will be up to it.
Leaving yourself out of it all might be a good idea, but you of course know this and I appreciate you are just having a bit of fun with your PB Arms buddies.
[The fact that this falls firmly into the category of joke that the teller enjoys far more thanthe audience makes me regret this not in the slightest]
Freaky moment: as soon as I showed up and before I could talk a burly man approached me and said “I know who you are, show me your passport, you are Leon”
Lol. I thought for a second it was @MikeSmithson unexpectedly come to ban me in person for
exaggerating my wartime exploits, as David Niven explicitly warned against
Turns out the Ukrainian authorities/police keep a really beady eye on any foreigners crossing any frontier - eg booking transnational bus tickets
Yet again, however, Boris came in handy. When I confirmed I was from England he burst into a rare Slavic smile. “Ah, England. You are our friend. Good country!”
They really do like us
Ex prisoners almost all had a cross on their lower forehead. Part of prison induction by fellow cons, but marked them for life and made it hard to go straight. Some would disguise it unconvincingly, but fairly easy in Christchurch to spot who had been inside.
Nobody needs another beer/laptop photo from somewhere perfectly safe.
Or enter Russia and go to Donetsk or Crimea. That would be interesting.
Our survival (I was with a photographer) was frankly miraculous
So, no, not a newbie. An idiot yes. But not entirely naive
When we have a fellow PBer in the teeth of the action over in Ukraine.
Super insensitive.
https://theseasonalgifts.com/products/die-hard-advent-calendar
When the Green Party selected Sian Berry to be its candidate to defend the Brighton Pavilion seat at the next general election, I wrote that “Sian has no know links to the city while being heavily committed to London. She will be seen as a carpetbagger and an opportunist who is being parachuted in from afar.” A bit harsh, perhaps, but a positive factor for Labour.
I also warned that Labour “has been slow off the mark in selecting its candidate, surprising really as Brighton Pavilion is one of its key targets…” I said that the party “needs to select a sensible, local candidate. Choose badly and it might let the Greens back in.”
So today’s news today that Eddie Izzard wants to be Labour’s candidate must be music to the ears of Sian Berry and the Greens. Like Berry, Izzard has no know links to the city while being heavily committed elsewhere, will be seen as a carpetbagger and an opportunist who is parachuting in from afar.” Choosing Izzard would neutralise an advantage that Labour might otherwise have.
https://andywinterbn1.wordpress.com/2023/08/04/why-choosing-eddie-izzard-as-its-candidate-in-brighton-pavilion-would-be-a-disaster-for-the-labour-party/
Labour have just turfed the Greens out of Brighton Council - are they going to blow their chance at Brighton Pavilion?
Yet the war in the home front has its own curiosity and strangeness and profundity. That mafia hotel I just left. Fresh oysters flown in for billionaires
All the men on leave on crutches. The towns that have been bombed almost at random in the deep countryside. The amputees. The lonely women drinking together. The mad things at the frontier
It’s a compelling spectacle, even if it lacks the excitement of cowering in a shelter in bakhmut
I intend to come back. Probably very soon. I might edge nearer the fighting…
https://www.theregister.com/2023/08/03/nhs_ico_warning/
Worth reading the whole story, as well as the world's most heavily redacted GDPR reprimand.
https://ico.org.uk/media/action-weve-taken/reprimands/4026016/nhs-lanarkshire-reprimand.pdf
Basically, absent any better solution, staff at NHS Lanarkshire were using a Whatsapp group to share patient information during the Covid outbreak when in-person discussions were hard. It's encrypted, right? At some point, an unapproved person was added to the group.
I suggest we end this conversation.
NEW
UK pure EV sales up a massive 88% in July 2023
Pure EVs were 16% of all new sales in July
(in July 2022 it was just 11%)
https://twitter.com/drsimevans/status/1687395053679874048?s=46
In all other seats they have been ignored so I'm hoping the same occurs here...
And yes we may never hear the end of your being held at gunpoint by Hezbollah and I appreciate your seeking to credentialise yourself on silly old PB.
One shot in that film did attain a certain niche notoriety amongst climbers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy6hpCVIgo8
It is obligatory to maintain the pose if you reach the top of the Cioch although I have to say there is less room than there looks, and it slopes in a somewhat disconcerting manner. There was a plastic sword left up there for the purpose for a while.
I don't know if Sean Connery did his own stunts for this one. Good for him if he did.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cvg4IQqA0c5/
Edit: and a different view of the totally undamaged ship majestically making its way into port under power:
https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1687376001930551296
https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.31.2300390
I did a Google translate on his final words
You must have a very hardy constitution!
I’ll edit this it was indeed the worst thing I’ve ever eaten . To put it into one of the worst doesn’t do it justice !
Andouillette
Absolutely delicious with proper French fries and a cold cold beer
You, sir, are a Heathen
Good form demanded that I eat it all, of course.
Taste can be weird like that.
We made the rocks
https://twitter.com/andrewmccalip/status/1687405505604734978
I’d rather eat a tin of dog food than ever lay eyes on the hell on a plate again .
..True andouillettes are rarely seen outside France and have a strong, distinctive odour coming from the colon...
I had no idea what I was ordering at the time (pre internet) and thought it looked interesting on the French only menu.
Rather nice it was not; definitely an example of 'true' andouillette.
https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/andouillette-french-sausage-association
Brilliant
The fat man waits at the harbour with the sardines
All the samples seem to tilt as if they either aren't 100% pure, or there's some directionality to the effect.
‘He drank all my whisky’: Romania wrestles with trespassing bears
https://twitter.com/valentinapop/status/1687401802931560448
Not a sight or taste you forget.
Though maybe I was just unlucky
"..."When you've tasted a few, it's quite clear," says Delpal. "Either it's very, very good, or it's disgusting. There's no middle ground.".
Of violins
Of autumn
Wound my heart
The foulest smelling food I have ever encountered is tinned fermented silkworm larvae. A tasty snack in South Korea
The smell was enough to make me gag as soon as I opened the tin. Indescribably awful. Satan’s arse after a fish curry
I wrapped it all in three plastic bags and took it outside my hotel to a public bin. That bad
Has Izzard made the shortlist or just put himself forward ?
You’ll thank me later
tubes.
I tried one at a motorway services a couple of years ago as it’s always on the menu especially if you’re anywhere near Troyes. It starts fine: slightly Offaly sausage. But the kicker is the initially mild ammonia hum which gets stronger and stronger with each mouthful. Really not pleasant.
Also the narcos who work the Ukraine-Romania and Ukraine-Moldova borders might fancy a go. Screw the politics.
He's so experienced he must know that DeepL is a better translator than Google Translate. That capitalised apparent gobbledegook probably contains a What3Words ref.
Or else he's pulling everybody's plonker (same as when he kept posting photos of Hitler) and he's already in Romania.